NCOE School board meets

The Norris City-Omaha-Enfield Board of Education met Wednesday, Jan. 16 for their first meeting of the new year. Superintendent Cliff Karnes gave an update on the district financial status based on 2011-12 data received from the Illinois Board of Education.

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By Special to The Times

The Carmi Times - Carmi, IL

By Special to The Times

Posted Jan. 23, 2013 at 12:00 PM

By Special to The Times

Posted Jan. 23, 2013 at 12:00 PM

Norris City

The Norris City-Omaha-Enfield Board of Education met Wednesday, Jan. 16 for their first meeting of the new year. Superintendent Cliff Karnes gave an update on the district financial status based on 2011-12 data received from the Illinois Board of Education.

Karnes reiterated that at the present time the district is in stable condition but all things can change very quickly. The district is heavily dependant on state funding and with the Illinois' economic situation, it is always questionable when money will be received.

Karnes told the Board he was very proud of what the school district has been able to do and stay financially sound. He praised former superintendent Mike Phelps, who drew a hard line in 2007 and 2008 on district spending.

School safety is always in the minds of administrators and more so since the December shootings in Connecticut. The NCOE District invited the Illinois State Police to hold a training on Jan. 14. The staff received a clinical and straightforward account of what needs to be done in crises situations. New safety measures are being put into place with more to come.

The Board accepted retirement letters from Fran Frymire, Selma Harness, David Flechs and Sherry Kingston for the end of the 2016-2017 school year. Mrs. Frymire has been a classroom teacher and coach and is currently the Title I teacher at Booth School. Mrs. Harness is a special education teacher at Booth. Mrs. Kingston is the NCO physical education teacher and coached volleyball and cheerleading for several years. Mr. Flechs began his career as an English teacher at NCOE High School and is currently the Booth School Principal.

The Board congratulated Lexie Money and Noah Floyd from NCO and Caite Weiss and Paige Clore from Booth as winners of their school's Spelling Bee.

In other business the Board-

--Accepted the bid from Wabash Valley Service to purchase gasoline and diesel products through Jan. 31, 2014.